Terms and abbreviations used this site are outlined below. If you find a mistake, spelling or otherwise, please notify me and I will make the necessary corrections.

Tags

SMS – Stem Mounted Shifters

DTS – Down Tube Shifters

BES – Bar End Shifters

BOS – Bottomed Out Seat (Referring to the seat height chosen by most OTS owners.)

OTS – Old Ten Speed

FRF – Front & Rear Fenders

CPB – Center Pull Brakes

SMR – Spoke-Mounted Reflectors

HTFC – Half-The-Fun-Conversion (Referring to a 10-speed converted to a 5-speed by removing the front derailer. Could also refer to a ten-speed with FNC drops.)

FNC – Flopped-N-Clopped

Pie Plate – Large metal or plastic disc found on the rear wheel of most OTS from the 1970s and 1980s

Prefix-Op – A term I use to refer to OTSs in their original or semi-original condition before the owner decides to sacrifice their Ten-speeded-lamb-of-cycling-frugality-and-sensibility for the fleeting thrill of a Quasi-Fixie-Conversion.

QFC – Quasi Fixie Conversion

UJBBTS – Universal Japanese Bike Boom Ten Speed (Thanks Harv)

OTSOTM – Old Ten Speed Of The Month

OIOTS – Obscure International Old Ten Speed

SDGCS – Super Deluxe Gel Comfort Saddle

MSDGCS – Moderately Super Deluxe Gel Comfort Saddle

Schwead – Schwinn Super Fan

Notthead – Raleigh Super Fan

Coluhuffrray – Columbia, Huffy, Murray, etc.

Ruffy or Huffeigh: A North American Raleigh that was owned by the Huffy Corporation
Courtesy of BRQ

Cotter – Regular reader/submitter/commenter of the OTSG

Schwinge – A Schwinn Binge.

Courtesy of Michael R

UMOTS – Unfortunately Modified Old Ten Speed

Courtesy of Curt N.

SOOTS – simply outstanding old ten speed

SLOTS – slightly lacking old ten speed (no wheel reflectors, seat not bottomed out, etc, etc)

FOOTS – freakin’ outrageous old ten speed

FROOTS – found, recovered, overhauled old ten speed

ROTS – rusty old ten speed

SOTS – shiny old ten speed

BOTS – beautiful old ten speed

Some little known 10-speed related organizations. Courtesy of Michael R.

CS&CPPPMC – Chromed Steel & Clear Plastic Pie Plate Manufacturers Consortium

IBSMSLW – International Brotherhood of Stem Mounted Shift Lever Workers

SA&RSMRA – Society of Amber & Red Spoke Mounted Reflectors Association

FSEO – Friction Shift Educational Organization

LSFMSO – Lugged Steel Frame Manufacturers Service Organization

OVTSA – Office of Vintage Ten Speed Affiliates